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Comment by orthoganol | Hacker News Reader

Speaking for myself, this was brought to my attention in the context of a developing story about WikiLeaks being under duress or Julian Assange missing, who has not sent direct communication let alone signed communication for around a month now.

EDIT - if curious, https://www.reddit.com/r/WhereIsAssange/

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Are you aware that the current top post (about blockchain) reads like a parody of a conspiracy theory?

Yep that doesn't look too good. Iirc there was more reasonable discussion on r/bitcoin. They have used the blockchain in the past, I will say that.

Without trying to turn this thread into a full "Where is Assange?" discussion, for me I just can't imagine why he has not sent communication since mid October, now long after the election, especially since the chorus is now strong enough that their Twitter has to say "everyone relax." He usually sees a lot of visitors, and they have access to millions of dollars, so he certainly has various ways to connect to the Internet just to say "I'm fine."

Without trying to turn this into a full "Where is Assange?" discussion, unless the conspiracy against Assange involves compromising such disparate actors as Ecuadorean embassy staff and prosecutor, the Swedish prosecutor, his own legal team, Wikileaks staff posting press releases in his name, Pamela Anderson and John Pilger, all of whom have communicated with him since his supposed disappearance, it's probably safe to assume that he has other priorities than sending a signed "I'm fine" message, particularly since it's already been documented that his preferred method of internet access was cut.

Yes, I know there are a few people who have said "He is fine, trust us", but it would take all of 2 seconds for him to send a message himself, a picture, a video clip, stand by the window, or go on the balcony, and there has now been a very long, uncharacteristic time window where he has not done this. He has many means of communication, regularly has visitors, and has a very legitimate reason for doing it (to silence all the people who are concerned, constantly Tweeting at them, calling to cease donations, etc.) - so the fact he hasn't is worthy of our suspicion.

EDIT - I really did mean "didn't want to start full discussion", because there apparently is a whole lot more circumstantial evidence, including regarding some of the people you mentioned (like some members of his legal team being barred entry), but seriously, I'm going to leave the fullness of that discussion for Reddit, and think anyone who is interested in it should take it up there.

To be honest, people that aren't going to be convinced that an in-depth video interview John Pilger asserts was made on October 30th or an abundance of statements from all parties about two days worth of formal interviews over the court case that's dogged him for a while aren't going to be convinced by a quick video of him saying "I aten't dead yet", or probably even a keysigned message.

There are an abundance of pretty straightforward hypotheses consistent with the known facts(e.g. "Assange isn't feeling fine because he's still angry and/or paranoid about his preferred internet connection being taken away", "Assange feels this story is good publicity, relative to other kinds of publicity he's getting at the moment") but of course these aren't the ones being discussed on "Where is Assange?" subreddits.

Sorry, but c'mon, that entire subreddit would disappear overnight if Julian gave just one, basic proof of well being. The majority of the 12,000 (and fast growing) are not conspiracy people, they just have a very simple request for a PGP message, a picture, a video, a public appearance, anything.

Again, I encourage the debate of circumstantial evidence on Reddit instead of here, but Julian does not say anything to indicate recency (pre mid October) in the Pilger interview, otherwise that would have probably ended the subreddit. And it's ambiguous to what extend Julian was involved in the recent posing of questions to the Ecuadorian prosecutor by the Swedish prosecutor (just the 1, without Assange's lawyers). Again, Julian just needs to take a quick minute and say "I'm fine," and that community would disappear.

Exactly. Every day that goes by w/out a proof-of-life from Assange adds weight to the theory that he is in fact no longer alive.

it's well known that his internet is cut off. I think if somebody was sending communications with his signing key while he is known to be unable to communicate, that would be the real problem.

He usually sees a lot of visitors, and the organization has access to millions of dollars, so he certainly has various methods available to him to say "I'm fine." They can't physically "cut him off" the Internet, but they can demand that he pause the election-related PR he was doing. They asked him to not interfere in the election, specifically.

However, the election has been over for some time. Even if they could, I doubt the Ecuadorian Embassy would forbid him from sending a basic message, picture, clip to verify he is OK, especially since pressure has been on them for a while now about his well being.

He could probably just give a wave from the embassy balcony? He's been out there before, though perhaps his circumstances have changed.

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